The Linus Connection is a Central Texas non-profit organization whose mission is to make and deliver handmade security blankets that are for children in crisis situations in the Austin and Central Texas area. The blankets go to children in hospital emergency rooms, in crisis centers, foster care, battered women’s shelters, and to any child who is in need of a little extra security in their lives.

All of the blankets are handmade (quilted, knitted or crocheted) by volunteers in the community, either as a group or individually. Each blanket is given to a child in need of some extra security.

Since 1999, The Linus Connection has distributed over 33,600 blankets to children in need across Central Texas. Almost 3,000 of those blankets have been distributed in 2009 alone.

TLC will celebrate it’s 10th anniversary serving Central Texas in October with an annual challenge, food and visits from both sponsors and recipient facilities.

When we meet: The 3rd Saturday of every month, 9 – 11 am (next meeting October 17, 2009)

Where we meet: St. Philip’s Methodist Church,16321 Great Oaks Drive, (the parking lot is off Racine), Round Rock, Texas 78681-3659

To learn more about The Linus Connection, see Show & Tell photos, contact us, leave a comment or to find out how you can help, please visit the TLC web site.

Congratulations to the winners of the Nature’s Best Quilt Contest. I will be contacting each of you over the next few days.

Large Quilts

View the quilts: Thumbnail Photos | Full-Sized Photos

Earthbound
By: Quilt Rat, Ontario, Canada

Coral Reef – By: Maggieinsc, South Carolina, USA

Stained Glass Garden – By: Denise French, Ontario, Canada

Small Quilts & Projects

View the quilts: Thumbnail Photos | Full-Sized Photos

Happiness – By: Melanie Testa, New York, USA

Forest Giant – By: Anne Maundrell, Brunei Darussalam

Coneflowers – By: Rosalind Pollock, United Kingdom

Today is the final mail date for the Friendship Bag Swap. If you are going to be late sending, please email your partner and myself to let us know when you expect to send it.

Here’s a small sampling of the gorgeous bags that have been created. You can see more in the Flickr group. This has been a fabulous swap and I hope everyone has enjoyed it.

More swapping fun:

Registration is open for the Inchie Ornaments Christmas Swap and the Fall-Inspired Mini Quilt Swap. Christmas swap is due December 1st and the Fall swap is due next January. Come join the fun!

Unfortunately, one of the quilts entered in the Small Quilts category for the Nature’s Best Quilt Contest had to be disqualified due to it exceeding the size limitations for that category.

I’m truly sorry Deborah that I didn’t realize you entered the incorrect contest when you submitted your entry. I’ll do my best to make it up to you by seeing that you still win a free prize or two.

Because of this error, I’ve extended the voting deadline for the contest until noon on Tuesday (Eastern time). Those that voted already in the Small Quilts category for the Swimming with the Fish should be able to vote again in that category.

You can vote here. Winners will be announced Tuesday evening.

Congratulations to the four lucky winners from last week: #51 Charis Cranford, #10 Wendy, #27 Darlee Byron, and #16 Jeanne McBrayer. They each won two packs of bobbin wrappers donated by LoveBug Studios.

This week’s give-away is for a charming accessory kit that includes just about everything you need to make a tote bag and matching fabric belt. It’s part of the "Learn to Sew" collection from Moda, and it’s a great way to introduce patchwork sewing to a young or new sewer in your life.

The kit is offered by Ruby Jane’s Retro Fabric, a quilt shop specializing in retro and reproduction prints from the 1860s to the 1960s. If it’s whimsical, kitschy, or looks like something your Grandma had in her kitchen, you can find it at Ruby Jane.

Ruby Jane also has a blog where she offers tutorials, links to free patterns, and a weekly review of the fashion design show Project Runway.

Ruby Jane Facebook fans have the opportunity to win free fat quarters every Friday, show off photos of their works in progress and discuss sewing-related topics.

When in the Dallas area, you can stop by and visit Ruby Jane’s shop, where you won’t meet Ruby, but you will meet her real-life counterpart, shop owner Barbara Thomas.

The kit includes 20 – 1 1/2" strips of fabric from the "Sweet" collection Moda, a 24" x 27" piece of fabric for your bag lining and handles, two D rings for the belt, and instructions for both projects. It all comes packaged in a little pink drawstring bag just perfect for holding your notions!

To enter the give-away, please leave a comment below. The contest closes October 8, 2009. One lucky winner will be randomly chosen to win.

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congrats to #10 Denise for winning this cute kit.

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